A Look Back
By Fred Miller
Forty-two years ago, on Nov. 13, 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. was dedicated during a week-long national tribute to all veterans. The Memorial Wall, designed by Maya Lin, was dedicated to more than 58,000 Americans who died or were listed as missing in the Vietnam War.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is near the Potomac River between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The land around the memorial is grassy and open like a park. It’s a place for people to remember the servicemen and servicewomen who died in the Vietnam War. It is the most visited monument in Washington.
More than 2.7 million served in the war. These soldiers were very young. Many were only 19 years old. The average age of those listed on the wall is 22.
On shining black wall are the names of eight Ocean City servicemen: Willie E. Granger (Panel 49W, Line 4), John C. Martin (Panel 41E, Line 11), Bruce M. Miley (Panel 40W, Line13), Jon R. Morvay (Panel 28E, Line 56), Charles W. Sterling (Panel 4W, Line 98), Robert A. Woodrow (Panel 23E, Line 8), William R. Godfrey (Panel 41E, Line 61) and George F. Long (Panel 63W, Line 18)
